Motivation & Resources for Learning Korean

My Winding Path to Korea and Korean

Over the years, people have asked me how I came to be in Korea. What brought me? Why did I stay so long? What does the future hold? In response to those questions (and a previous blog post), I thought it would be worthwhile to reflect on the decisions I’ve made that have led me to this point.

The following are presented in reverse chronological order.

February 2013

My decision to get serious about learning Korean can be traced back to a few things:

The birth of my children (Jan 2011, Nov 2013). An increased number of mouths to feed is directly proportional to an increased need for a greater income.

Unrest at my job – based on income level and opportunities (though the work itself, working hours, and coworkers are great).

Looking for opportunities in my field of study. ESL isn’t my passion and I want to have a good resume and portfolio when I start looking into returning to America.

Decision rating:

★★★★★ Great decision! (Well, so we hope.) Born out of necessity and desire. Logical.

November 2009

My decision to takethis job came from:

My desire to get married to my wife (Dec 2009).

A need for better working hours (for my wife’s sake) and a more reputable place of employment (for my in-laws’ peace of mind).

My desire to stay in this city in Korea.

Decision rating:

★★★★☆ Good decision. Born out of experience, necessity, and opportunity.

October 2007

My decision to stay in this city in Korea came from:

The fact that I’ve always lived here – it’s the first time I’ve been truly “independent” – and it’s comfortable.

All my friends and my in-laws are here (and I really don’t like Seoul – Busan is about as big as I’d like).

July 2006

My understanding that I’d just “get in trouble” in Japan – and my desire to make something more of my life than bars, booze, and babes.

A phone call with my parents encouraging me to choose Korea over Japan, and a gut feeling that they were right.

The opportunity to work for a “university” vs. an academy. (Actually, I discovered upon arrival in Korea that my cushy “university” job was actually just a private business man who’d set up ONE early morning university class. And in order to fulfill the full hours stated on my contract, he ended up farming me out to 9 different kindergartens all over the city – for a year. That’s why I tried to flee Korea for Japan afterwards.)

The fact that I’d already lived in both China (May 2004, June 2005) and Japan (May-July 2006) for a number of months and knew absolutely nothing about Korea.

The fact that, despite minoring in Asian Studies, I could only recall a single 2-page sub-chapter about Korea in any book I’d ever studied (and it was about the Korean War – of which I couldn’t even remember the time period).

Having met a number of beautiful Korean exchange students previously who’d all said, “Korea is a great place to teach English and make money!”

Decision rating:

★★★☆☆ Average decision. A decision from necessity, curiosity, and suggestion. (At this point in my life, I was visionless – I had no goals for my future beyond “tomorrow.”)

June 2006

My ESL job search that originated in Japan came from:

My Japanese friend prodding me to get serious about my future and find work before my tourist VISA expired.

Previous positive work experience at an English camp in China (June 2005).

The desire to not return to America before finding work in Asia.

Decision rating:

★★★☆☆ Average decision. A decision based on suggestion and necessity. Also strong negative emotion about returning to America.

May 2006

My decision to go to Japan after graduation rather than China came from: